The big event saw over a thousand people from all over Victoria gather to celebrate the Italian Republic. The rich and varied program demonstrated the impressive ability of the Italian-Australian community to tastefully merge the traditional and the contemporary.
The day began with the laying of flowers at the war memorial, orchestrated by the Victorian Association of Italian Armed Combatants in which many members of the community participated, followed by a Mass.
The day moved along with a wonderful performance by the Veneto Club choir who entertained the crowd with traditional Italian songs, marking the official opening of the festival.
Calabria Club President Sam Sposato welcomed those in attendance before introducing tenor Cosimo Ciccone and soprano Rada Tochalna to sing the national anthems of Australia and Italy.
Tony Tardio, the day’s MC, then introduced the official speech givers, all who emphasised the importance of the Italian community in Australia and the ties between the two places.
Speeches were given by the Honourable Nicola Caré, the Consul General of Italy in Melbourne, Hannah Pappalardo, Senator Raff Ciccone, Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, Michela Pellizon of Co.As.It. and Ubaldo Aglianò, president Com.It.Es Victoria and Tasmania.
Guests were spoiled with a full afternoon of entertainment and activities for the whole family. On the luscious bowling green, a makeshift stage was graced by another performance by Ciccone and Tochalna, Kavisha Mazzella and a tambourine and organ show by Michele Pacelli and Nicholas Mustoni. The spectacle ended with a “JAM Session” on the outdoor stage that united all the performers in a special finale.
As some guests sung and danced, others attended the conference The Value of the Republic and its Citizens Abroad, organised by Filef.
The conference was moderated by Luca Esposito, coordinator of Filef Australia, and enriched by the speeches of Francesco Pascalis and Simone Battiston who explored the contribution of Italians abroad and offered a space for reflection and debate.
What made this day unforgettable was the presence of myriad local Italian Clubs, each with its own food stall, and if there’s anything for which Italy is known and appreciated all over the world, it’s food. The stalls helped to represent the wide diversity of the Bel Paese’s regions.
Republic Day 2024 at the Calabria Club was an extraordinary success. It was a celebration that combined tradition, culture and community. The day reaffirmed the pride of those with Italian roots and provided the joy of sharing this heritage with Australia. A more in-depth look at the Festa will be in the next print edition of Il Globo.
